"The good Old Lord Wharton, whose memory ought forever to be precious to New England, went with Mr. Mather to wait on the Prince of Orange, at St. James's, and on January 9, [1689,] then presented the petition for it unto his Highness. That noble person, with a great zeal, told his Highness, That if he were sure to Dy the next Day, he would, as he now did this Day, appear on behalf of New-England, and sollicit His favour to that Religious Country. He said, That they were a Godly, Conscientious People, and there were Proportionably more Good Men in New-England, than in any part of the World. He said They did not Petition for Money, nor for Souldiers, nor any other succours under their heavy Difficulties; but for their Ancient Privileges. His Highness replied, That His Purpose was to take the Best care he could about it; and He would give order to his Secretary, Mr. Jephson! concerning it. My Lord then carrying Mr. Mather to Mr. Jephson, said Cousin, (for such he was,) Observe this Gentleman ; and whenever he comes to you, Receive him, as if I came myself."

The following is a copy of the petition:

"To the King William, and Queen Mary's Most Excellent Majty, the Humble petition of S William Phipps, Knt, and Increase Mather, Rector of the Colledge at Cambridge, in New-England,

"Humbly Sheweth, That four Colonies in New-England, have had their charters, which did empower them. to choose their own Rulers, by extraordinary wayes taken from them; and St Edmond Andross has been sent to govern them by an illegall Commission, that of late we hear that the Indians annimated by the French, are making Warr upon them; and if that territory should be

lost, it would prove very prejudicial to the English Nation, and to the Protestant interest in general. Therefore as an effectual remedy against these evills; We Humbly pray, that St Edmond Andross may be removed from his government, in New-England. And that yor Majtys will please by a letter under yo' Majty hand and sign manuel, to declare that all their charters being restored to them, that they proceed in administrations of government as before any Quo Warrantos were issued against them. Also, that order may be given to the former Governours in the several Colonies in New-England, to proclaim yo' Majtys as King and Queen in that part of your dominions.

"And your petitioners shall ever pray.

"WILLIAM PHIPPS,

INCREASE MATHER."

On the morning of April 8, 1689, the people from the country came into Boston, and with those of Boston already in arms, proceeded to seize and imprison the Governor, and some of the members of his council, and other obnoxious persons, about fifty in all. They were seized at the Fort, on Fort Hill, to which Sir Edmond had repaired for protection. The former magistrates were restored.

"June 6, 1689. The House of Representatives, Order, That St Edmond Andros be forthwith removed to the Castle, and carefully kept and secured (till further order), by a sufficient guard, our honored Governor and assistants consenting hereunto.

"EBENEZER PROUT,

"Clerk to the House of Representatives.

"Consented to by the Counsell June 6, 1689,

"J". ADDINGTON, Clerk."

June 11, 1689. The Court order fifty men, to be stationed at the castle.

After the confinement of Sir Edmond Andros, many who had been imprisoned by him, petitioned for their liberty, and obtained it.

After a short confinement at the castle, Andros makes his escape to Rhode Island, but the people there seize and imprison him, and deliver him up to the people of Massachusetts, who again imprison him; soon after which he is recalled by the King.

The people of Massachusetts Colony felt themselves very much aggrieved by the dissolution of their first charter. Their case, represented to the King as just before stated, having been referred to council, the opinion given upon it was as follows:

"That a bare restitution of the charters, and especially of Massachusetts, would be of no service at all; as appears both from the charter itself and from the practice of that Colony, who have hardly proved the terms thereof in any one instance. As to the Charter itself, that Colony, if they should have it, would want,

"1st. A power to call a select assembly; for there many thousand freemen have an equal right to sit in the assembly.

"2d. A power to lay taxes and raise money, especially on inhabitants not freemen, and strangers coming to trade there.

"3d. They have no Admiralty.

"4th. They have no power to keep a prerogative court, to prove wills, &c.

"5th. Nor to erect Courts of Judicature, especially Chancery Courts."

The old charter having been originally given to a com

pany resident in England, all these things were provided for in the King's Courts, in England.

Under the former charter, the freemen of Massachusetts Colony elected their own Governor at a general meeting holden in Boston, on election day; and each freeman had a charter right to sit in the General Assembly; the practice however was, after a few years from the first settlement of Massachusetts, for each town to choose one or more Deputies. These Deputies were chosen anew for each session.

After Sir Edmond Andros was deposed in 1689, Simon Bradstreet was elected President of the Colony; and on the 6th day of May, in that year, the town of Rowley being called upon by said President and the Council, did assemble in town meeting, and made choice of Deacon John Pearson, Senior, and Quartermaster Daniel Wicom, to meet with said Council, and consult and advise with them, and the town, by a unanimous vote, instructed them to insist on the maintaining our charter privileges, and continuing an election day according to charter.

In the early part of the year 1692, a new charter was received, and Sir William Phips was appointed Governor.* On the 24th day of May, in that year, O. S., the General Court, consisting of one hundred and fiftyseven members, first convened under this charter. The Deputies from Rowley, were Ezekiel Jewett and John Dresser.

Sir William Phips found the province in a distressed condition; Indian war was raging along the frontier settlements. The public mind, particularly in the County of Essex, was most dreadfully distracted by what has

* Under this new Charter, the Governor was appointed by the King.

been denominated the Salem Witchcraft. The trouble began in February, 1691-2, in the family of the Rev. Samuel Paris, of Salem Village, now Danvers. A daughter aged nine years, and a niece aged eleven, were the

persons first afflicted. Their physician gave it as his opinion, that "they were under an evil hand." These children accused a female Indian servant, named Tituba, of pinching, pricking, and tormenting them. The children said she was visible to them, when others could not

see her, &c. Soon other persons complained of suffering and others were accused. Complaints and accusations continued to be made, not only in Salem, but in various other towns in Essex County. The courts of law were resorted to, and trial by jury was had, but these were found too inefficient to protect the persons and property of the people.

June 2, 1692. A special commission of oyer and terminer having been issued out to Mr. Stoughton, the Lieutenant Governor, Major Saltonstall, Major Richards, Major Gidney, Mr. Wait Winthrop, Captain Sewall, and Mr. Sergeant, a quorum of whom sat at Salem this day.

One Bishop, of Salem, was tried, brought in guilty, and executed the 10th.

June 30. The Court again sat, when five more were tried, viz Sarah Good and Rebecca Nurse, of Salem Village; Susannah Martin, of Amsbury; Elizabeth How, of Ipswich; and Sarah Wildes, of Topsfield ; these were all condemned that session, and were all executed on the 19th of July.

August 5. The Court again sitting, six more were tried on the same account, viz. George Burroughs, sometime minister of Wells; John Proctor, and Elizabeth, his wife, with John Willard, of Salem Village;